Incoming Visitors

Hebron City

Hebron is one of the oldest continuously inhabited cities in the world. Archaeological investigations show several layers of habitation, dating from the Chalcolithic period (circa 4500-3200 BC) down to the Umayyad period (661-750 AD). The city is known as the burial place of the prophets Abraham/Ibrahim, Isaac, Jacob and their wives. During the Roman period, Herod the Great (73-4 BC) built a massive wall to enclose the cave of the prophets’ tombs. After the conquest of Hebron by the Crusaders (1099), this enclosure was turned into a church, and subsequently, after Saladin’s retaking of the city in 1187, into a mosque.

During the Mamluk rule (1250-1516 AD), Hebron flourished and became a famous Sufi centre. Hundreds of Islamic religious and historical monuments were built close to the enclosed tombs. During Ottoman rule (1517- 1918 AD) the town witnessed a period of expansion, giving the old city its present-day shape and boundaries.

Still dominated by Mamluk-style architecture, Hebron is one of the few Islamic cities that has preserved its authentic set up, visible in its urban fabric and prestigious architecture, corroborated by its particular craftsmanship (the famous pottery and glassware of Mamluk origin) and its traditional life

Hebron Today

Hebron is proud to carry its traditions and heritage into modern life. When visiting the city you can enjoy a warm welcome, the essence of the local hospitality and generosity. You can also enjoy a colorful blend of old and new with a number of modern shopping malls, hotels and restaurants offering traditional and modern cuisines. In addition to the historical sites mentioned below you can experience a moment of antiquity in Hebron's pottery, glass blowing, genuine leather factories, traditional embroidery…etc.

Places to visit:

The Old Town of Hebron

One of the oldest towns in Palestine, its market, (souq) has striking arched roofs and a maze of alleys that are definitely worth exploring. The shops and stalls sell everything from pottery, olivewood, blown glass, to a wide array of aromatic spices and dried fruits and soap.

Al-Haram Al-Ibrahimi (The Ibrahimi Mosque)

Known locally as Al-Haram (the sanctuary), the mosque and its surroundings house the tombs of the monotheistic patriarchs and their wives, Abraham, Isaac, Jacob and their wives Sarah, Leah and Rebecca.

Oak of Ibrahim

An oak tree 2km west of Hebron marks the legendary site where Abraham (Ibrahim) pitched his tent. Excavations in 1926-28 revealed a Herodian enclosure with a well in its south-western corner. Until recently, pilgrims would peel pieces of the trunk for good luck. The Russian Orthodox Church that owns the site and the nearby monastery has wrapped the trunk with steel braces for protection.

Haram al-Rama (Mamre)

It lies in North Hebron. The site was discovered during archaeological excavations in the 1920s. According to religious traditions the site might be the place where Abraham received the three Angels who informed him that his barren wife Sarah would give birth to his son Isaac. Christian traditions also identify this place as a resting place of Joseph and Mary on their way to Egypt. In the Roman period, Herod the Great built an impressive enclosure complex (49X65m) with statues to Edomite deities. After the first century AD, the site became one of the main market fairs in Palestine. In the fourth century AD, a church was built inside the enclosure, which is depicted on the Madaba Map; the site was reused during the medieval period. The site was rehabilitated by the Ministry of Tourism and Antiquities as an archaeological park

How to get there

NB: The Palestinian Authority does not issue visas for foreigners going to the ‎Palestinian Territories as they are occupied by Israel. The visa you receive from Israel ‎will therefore also apply here as well. Unfortunately, we cannot guarantee that visas will be granted by the Israeli authorities.

Please check with your embassy to find out more on your country's visa policy with Israel. ‎

Visitors who would like to cross the border from Jordan, need to fly to Queen Alia International Airport and then cross the border at either King Hussein Bridge or Sheikh Hussein Bridge. Please ‎do not confuse “King Hussein Bridge” with “Sheikh Hussein Bridge”.

You should check with the Jordanian embassy in your country on how the procedure for ‎obtaining a Jordanian visa is for you. Some nationalities can also obtain their visas on arrival to Jordan as ‎well.

There are three options to enter Israel and the Palestinian Territories and it is up to you to select ‎one.

Via Ben Gurion Airport, Tel Aviv, Israel

Once you arrive at Tell Aviv Airport, (There is a shuttle to Jerusalem and then a taxi to Hebron) or you can pay extra for a taxi to take you to Hebron directly. Please contact the International Relations Office to see if any other arrangements could be made to transport you to the university.‎

Via Jordan, Allenby/King Hussein Bridge ‎

Allenby Bridge (King Hussein Bridge) is a main entry point from Jordan into the West Bank. It ‎is approximately 35 minutes from Queen Alia International Airport and controlled by the Jordanian authorities on one side and Israeli authorities on the other.

Via Sheikh Hussein Bridge

Sheikh Hussein Bridge is another main entry point from Jordan into the West Bank. It ‎is approximately 1.5hours to the north of Amman and also controlled by the Jordanian authorities on one side and Israeli authorities on the other.

General Advice

Weekends:

Fridays and Saturdays are public holidays.‎

What to Bring:‎

Regular things (clothes, cosmetics, hygiene products etc.), and we suggest you ‎bring your own medicine with copies of prescription‎

‎When planning on what clothes to bring, we recommend that you keep in mind that you will be ‎spending your time in a conservative community. Female visitors may find a light shawl very useful.

Internet access

Internet access and WiFi is readily available on campus

Language ‎

English is the second language used in Palestine

The political atmosphere

It is important to note, that the West Bank is geographically separated from Gaza so the level of security ‎and the political situation is quite different in each place with the West Bank being generally quite stable.

When travelling in the country, one should have their passport on them as there are checkpoints or barriers where they might be requested

Living Cost

While studying at HU, international students need to ‎cover their own living expenses including accommodation, food, transportation, and other ‎daily living needs. If a student is living in a one room shared flat, a student will typically need somewhere between 500-800 USD a month to live in Hebron. This budget does not include recreational activities such as visiting historical places, travelling and seeing the country, etc.

Volunteering at Hebron University

Hebron University also has several volunteer programmes where international students have the opportunity of working with the local community. Interaction with our staff, students and the locals will increase your cultural experience. Here are some examples of the volunteer programs the university offers:‎

Hebron University is pleased to offer courses and degree programmes for international students who seek ‎to expand their academic and cultural knowledge. We offer the latest programs in several ‎scientific fields and in the humanities, in both undergraduate and postgraduate studies.

While Hebron University is a licensed and internationally accredited ‎university, some institutions may have certain differences when interpreting credit hours and ‎applying them to domestic programmes. Please check with your school's Registrar's Office to find out what your institution's policy is.‎